Method of changing throughgoing openings in separation of a concave of a harvester

ABSTRACT

A method for changing throughgoing openings on separation area of a concave in an agricultural harvester in which the concave is composed of at least one frame, a plurality of beater strips and wires together forming the concave separating area, arranging at least one adjusting device under the concave separating area, and adjusting a width of the throughgoing openings by the at least one adjusting device; and a device for performing the method is provided.

CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of copending patent application Ser. No.10/832,884 filed on Apr. 27, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of and a device for changingthroughgoing openings of a concave in an agricultural working machine,in particular a self-propelled combined harvester.

The individual throughgoing openings of the concave separating area aredetermined by the distance between the beater strips and wires of theconcave. The size of the throughgoing openings is decisive for theefficiency of the threshing of different crop types. For different croptypes, differently sized throughgoing openings are needed to guaranteean unobjectionable threshing of the grain. Corn grains for examplerequire greater throughgoing openings than wheat grains.

When the throughgoing openings are too great, a higher portion ofnon-grain components is separated on the concave, which leads to greatercontamination of the grains separated on the concave. To the contrary,the throughgoing openings which are too small lead for example toclogging of the throughgoing openings, and therefore of the concave,with greater grains. Thereby the danger of corn breakage increases, sothat the not thrashed crop above the concave separating area is blockedby further subsequent crop and in addition reduces contacting by thethreshing drum.

German patent document DE 3832996 discloses a device for adjusting thedistance between two successive rods on a concave. The rods arecomponents of the concave and determine the throughgoing size for thecrop. By adjusting the distance between two successive rods, in the sameconcave, without reconstruction of the elements, each type of harvestcan be sufficiently threshed and separated. This is achieved in thateach second rod is supported turnably. Flap elements are stationarilymounted on the rotatable rods. By turning the rods, the flap elementsare moved in the corresponding rotary direction and in the space locatedin front of the movable rods. The turning rod is moved by the movementto the non-turnable rod.

The disadvantage is here the position which the flap elements assume inthe turned position. In the lowered condition the flap elements arearranged inclined under the throughgoing openings. In this way thepassage of the crop is prevented. The threshing of the crop is limited,since the free space under the separating surface of the concave ispartially filled by the flap elements, that finally limits the furtherfeeding of the crop after the threshing. Since the crop can no longerpass without obstacle between the rods, this leads to clogging inconnection with grain breakage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amethod of and a device for changing throughgoing openings in anagricultural harvester, in particular a combined harvester, which isconvertable in a structurally simple and cost-favorable manner andallows a fine threshing of different crops without any negative effects.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparenthereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, brieflystated in a method for changing throughgoing openings in a separationarea of a concave in an agricultural harvester in which the concave iscomposed of at least one frame, a plurality of beater strips and wirestogether forming the concave separating area, the method comprising thesteps of arranging at least one adjusting device under the concaveseparating area; and adjusting a width of the throughgoing openings bythe at least one adjusting device.

The other feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in adevice for changing throughgoing openings in a separating area of aconcave in an agricultural harvester in which the concave is composed ofat least one frame, and a plurality of beater strips and wires whichtogether form the concave separating area, the device comprising anadjusting device composed of a plurality of individual tines which arein operative connection with one another through at least one tinestrip; a switching shaft; and at least one cam arranged on saidswitching shaft and controlling said tine strip.

Since the width of the throughgoing openings is changeable by at leastone adjusting device arranged under the concave separating area, nochange is needed for the available concave. In addition with the changeof the width of the throughgoing opening it is guaranteed that aseparation in an inlet region of the concave is avoided, so that underthe action of the centrifugal force on the threshed grain, an increaseof the concentration of grains in a threshing gap in the region of theconcave can be performed, before a grain-chaff mixture is separated onthe concave. This is especially advantageous in that the part of theseparated non-grain component can be reduced, so that overloadingphenomena at the following working elements, in particular in thecleaning device, can be avoided in a simple manner.

The adjusting device is arranged in the concave, and in accordance withthe present invention is located under the concave separating area.Thereby the concave during harvesting can be fully loaded, withoutnegatively influencing the crop harvesting by the adjusting device. Anadjustment of individual rods or beater strips relative to one anotheris no longer necessary.

By guiding the adjusting device from above between the wires of theconcave, the threshing and working region above or on the concaveseparating area remains not contacted.

The lateral and/or outward displacement of the adjustment device enhancethe threshing of the crop. The adjusting device in its initial conditioncan be arranged so that the grains falling on it can be transportedfurther without being limited by the adjusting device. A crop cloggingis thereby excluded. In addition, the adjusting tines are introduced inthe space between two neighboring beater strips, without a distancechange between the beater strips or wires, that provides a significanttechnical simplification.

In view of the simple construction of the total adjusting mechanism, theadjusting tines can be lowered when not in use, without negativelyinfluencing the further harvesting process, whereby the grains aredirectly threshed without negatively influencing their furthertransportation. Since the lowering is performed at a certain increasedconcentration of the crop on the concave separating area,correspondingly clean crop is separated, since the non-grain componentsare transported further before this.

The adjusting device is composed of a plurality of adjusting tines,which are in operative communication via at least one tine strip, andthe tine strips are controlled via at least on cam arranged on aswitching shaft. Therefore, the adjusting of the width of thethroughgoing openings is controlled synchronously, and the adjustment ofthe width of the throughgoing openings is performed also synchronouslyand simultaneously. This guarantees a uniform threshing.

This synchronous adjustment can be expanded in a structurally simplemanner to a plurality of tine strips connected in series. For thispurpose all tine strips are controlled by a single switching shaft.

A particularly uniform threshing is provided when the adjusting tines ofthe adjusting device are arranged in lower condition on the verticalplane under the wires and/or beater strips. Due to this arrangement, thethreshed grains pass without obstacle through the concave and so thatthe adjusting tines do not limit the required space.

The vertically adjustable arrangement of the adjusting device betweenthe beater strips acts so that the adjusting tines can be alsovertically adjustable in the vertical position between the wires of theconcave. It is possible to position the adjusting tines deeper than thewires. Thereby during the threshing process first and mainly the beaterstrips and the wires are loaded, and after the adjusting tines. The loaddistribution serves for clearing the adjusting device and in particularthe adjusting tines. On the other hand, the adjusting tines can bearranged also on one plane with the wires. Thereby a uniform separatingarea is provided.

In a structurally simple manner the distance of the adjusting devicesrelative to one another and/or the distance of the individual tinesrelative to one another can be equal or different. Thereby the size ofthe throughgoing openings can be additionally varied.

With the exchangeability of the total adjusting device is guaranteedthat the exchange or the removal of the adjusting device can beperformed also during the use in a simple manner. This in particular hasthe advantage that it is possible to react to changing harvestingconditions fast and without expensive conversion works.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for thepresent invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a section taken along the line I—I in FIG. 2through a concave with a lowered adjusting device, in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a concave portion with the adjustingdevice and a switching shaft, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a section of a part of the concave taken alongthe cutting line in FIG. 4, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a section along line IV—IV in FIG. 2 with alowered adjusting device, in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line V—V of FIG. 2 corresponding to FIG.4, however with a lifted vertically adjusted adjusting device, inaccordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a threshing mechanism of a not shown combineharvester on a side view. The threshing mechanism includes a drivablethreshing drum 2 and an associated concave 3. The concave 3 is composedof a frame 4 and a plurality of webs 5 and beater strips 6 stationarilyintegrated in it.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an adjusting device 10 under theconcave 3. Several tine strips 30 are located one behind the other in arow. FIG. 2 shows that in a structurally simple manner any number of thetine strips 30 can be arranged under the concave 3. The adjusting device10 can cover basically the whole region under the concave 3. Forproviding a synchronous control the tine strips 30 when needed, they arecontrolled simultaneously and synchronously by a single switching shaft16. An adjustment is performed in accordance with the principle which isillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Wires 7 which are located parallel to one another extend throughopenings inside the beater strips 6. Individual throughgoing openings 8of a concave separating area 9 are formed by the distances between thewires 7 and the beater strips 6 with respect to one another. The size ofthe throughgoing openings 8 determines the comminution degree of theproduct mat between the threshing drum and a concave. For different croptypes, differently dimensioned throughgoing openings 8 are required, toguarantee an efficient threshing and separation of the grains.

The inventive adjusting device 10 is arranged under the concaveseparating area 9. The width of the throughgoing openings 8 isadjustable by the adjusting device 10. The adjusting device 10 iscomposed of a plurality of adjusting tines 15 which are arranged behindand near one another, separated by neighboring beater strips 6. Theyextend radially at an angle to the threshing drum rotary axis A shown inFIG. 1, in correspondence with the concave shape. The adjusting tinesform a structural unit with a tine strip 30. The switching shaft 6serves for adjusting the adjusting tines 15 or the tine strips 30 and isconnected at an outer side through a console 17 stationarily with theframe 4. At the rear end of the switching shaft 16 it can be formed witha wrench width 18 for adjustment. Thereby the adjusting can be performedmanually. In a further embodiment of the present invention, theadjustment can be performed by an electric motor 19 shown in a brokenline in FIG. 1 or an adjusting lever 19 a.

FIG. 3 shows a section of a detail of FIG. 1 identified with a dash-dotline. It illustrates the arrangement of the adjusting device 10 and theadjusting tines 15 relative to the beater strip 6 and the concave wires7.

In the initial position or rest position, the adjusting tines 15 asshown in FIG. 1, are located under the wires 7 and in the same verticalplane. The tine strip 30 is movably connected by a pin 20 with a console17 which is additionally welded on the beater strip 6. A rotatablecontrol plate 22 is integrated between a screw head 21 and a console 17.The pin 20 which passes through the free end of the console 17 isassociated with the adjusting device 10 which obtains a predeterminedarrangement relative to the beater strip 6 by a cover disk 23 which isfixed with a nut 24. The control plate 22 is connected with a furtherpin 25. This connection corresponds to the previously describedconnection of the pin 20 and therefore is not explained in detail.

The nature of the cooperation of the arrangement of the pins 20, 25, thecontrol plate 22, and the adjusting device 10 can be seen from FIGS. 4and 5.

FIG. 4 shows the adjusting device 10 in a lowered condition. Theadjusting tines 15 are located directly under the wires 7 of the concave3. The tine strips 30 follow, as the beater strips 6, the geometry ofthe concave 3. In the region of the webs 5, the tine strips 30 areprovided with recesses 31 that allow a lateral displacement of the tinestrips 30 of the adjusting device 10. In the region between theadjusting tines 15, the tine strips 30 have depressions 32 that allow amovement of the adjusting tines 15 in the intermediate spaces betweenthe wires 7, without limiting the adjustment ability of the tine strips30 by the available wires 17 of the concave 3.

A console 17 is shown in dash-dot line behind the tine strip 30 in FIGS.4 and 5. This console 17 is fixedly connected with the beater strip. Theconsole 17 is in turn in operative connection with a control plate 22arranged stationarily but rotatably on the tine strip 30. The controlplate 22 is also shown in a dash-dot line and is connected in its endregions by the corresponding screw pins 20, 25 rotatably with theconsole 17 and the tine strip 30. During displacement of the adjustingdevice 10 along the tine strip 30, the pin 20 leads the tine strip 30along an elongated hole 33 provided in the tine strip 30. Due theconnection between the control plate 22, the tine strip 30 and theconsole 17, as well as the shape of the elongated hole 33, the adjustingtines 15 are turned to the corresponding position. The shape of theelongated hole 33 determines a curved path 36 (FIG. 4), over which theadjusting tines 15 move from their lowered position 37 to their raisedposition 38 for at least partially closing the throughgoing openings 8.

In the lowered position of the adjusting device 10, the adjusting tines15 are arranged directly under the wires 7 of the concave 3. Thisposition is adjusted by turning of the cam 34. The cam 34 moves inside aswitching coulisse 35 and is located in a disengaged position 37 of theadjusting tine 15 flush at the right side of the switching coulisse 35.The switching coulisse 35 is preferably U-shaped. For performing theadjustment of the device 10, the cam 34 that is stationarily integratedon the switching shaft 16, can be controlled manually, mechanically orhydraulically and turned in an arrow directions 39.

The lowering of the adjusting device 10 is performed in accordance withthe present invention when high quantity of grains are concentrated onthe concave separating area 9. By the correspondingly performed loweringof the adjusting device 10 the collected grains with a small part ofnon-grain components move over the wires 7 into a not shown workingunit, for example a cleaning device.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the adjusting device 10 after completeadjustment of the cam 34 is located in a raised position, and theadjusting tines 15 are located in their set up position 38. The cam 34abuts then flush at the left side of the switching coulisse 35. Therebythe tine strips 30 are displaced to the left by the length of the cam34. For positioning of the adjusting tines 15 of the tine strips 30accurately between the wires 7 of the concave 3, the tine strips 30 asdescribed herein above, are connected with a console 17 which isarranged stationary on the beater strip 6.

By controlling the cam 34 the tine strip 30 is displaced inclinedlyupwardly. This displacement is obtained by displacing the control plate22 to the left by an identical amount as the tine strip 30. Thereby thepin 20 of the tine strip 30, which is in operative connection with thecontrol plate 22 and the console 17, is guided along the elongated hole33. In this manner the adjusting device 10 obtains the accurateadjustment.

The present invention, and in particular its method and a device forperforming the method, are not limited only to the concave 3 of anagricultural harvester, but instead can be used in any working machinefor obtaining the same effect.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inmethod of and device for changing throughgoing openings in separationarea of a concave of a harvester, it is not intended to be limited tothe details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

1. A method for changing throughgoing openings in a separation area of aconcave in an agricultural harvester in which the concave is composed ofat least one frame, a plurality of beater strips and wires togetherforming the concave separating area, the method comprising the steps ofarranging at least one adjusting device under the concave separatingarea; and adjusting a width of the throughgoing openings by the at leastone adjusting device.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1; and furthercomprising guiding the adjusting device from below between the wires ofthe concave.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprisingguiding an adjusting device between the wires in a direction selectedfrom the group consisting laterally, outwards and both.
 4. A method asdefined in claim 1; and further comprising bringing back the adjustingdevice to its initial position in a direction selected from the groupconsisting downwardly, laterally, and both.